How to grow Poppy anemone

Anemone coronaria · crown anemone, garden anemone, Anemone coronaria

Poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria) — a Mediterranean tuberous plant with poppy-like flowers in red, blue or white with a dark centre (hybrids come in more colours), loved as a long-lasting cut flower. It is hardy outdoors only in mild climates (USDA zones 7–10); elsewhere it is planted in spring or grown under cover. The plant dies down after flowering.

Checked against sources: October 3, 2026

Quick facts

Type	Flower
Family	Ranunculaceae
Light	Full sun
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 8 °C
Germination	14 days
Where it grows	Greenhouse, Open ground, At home

When to plant

Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.

In an unheated greenhouse everything moves about three weeks earlier.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

Greenhouse

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 5 days	—	—
Flowering	every 5 days	—	organic, at the start of the stage

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	—
Flowering	every 7 days	—	organic, at the start of the stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 4 days	—	—
Flowering	every 4 days	—	organic, at the start of the stage

Growing notes

Light

Full sun; it tolerates part shade.

Soil

Rich, light, sandy, well-drained soil that stays moist but never waterlogged — in wet soil the tubers rot.

Care

Before planting, soak the dry tubers for 3–4 hours in room-temperature water — soaked too long they can rot. Plant them 5–8 cm deep and 10–15 cm apart. Where winters are mild, plant in autumn for spring flowers; elsewhere plant after the last frost, or in autumn in pots in a cool greenhouse. Flowers come 10–12 weeks after planting. Water regularly while the plants grow and bloom, but never let the soil get soggy, and give a liquid feed (for example seaweed) once flowering starts. Pick flowers as they open and cut faded ones to the base for more blooms. After flowering the plants die down; in cold areas lift and store the tubers or buy new ones. Tubers freeze and rot below −4 °C. All parts are poisonous, and the fresh sap can blister the skin.

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.